A picture has surfaced online that is alleged to have been taken by an Apple engineer with an 8-megapixel camera from the still-unannounced fifth-generation iPhone.

The data associated with the so-called "test photo" discovered by PocketNow states that it was shot with an iPhone 4, but also reveals that the picture, cropped to a size of 5 megapixels, was originally a much-higher resolution just shy of 8 megapixels.

"What's more, the lens was recorded as a 4.3mm f/2.4, which is closer to that of a point-and-shoot than the iPhone 4's actual 3.85mm f/2.8," the report said.

However, the data could also be bogus, as the site noted it was recently duped by an image taken with an iPhone, then uploaded to an iPad using software that altered the EXIF data associated with the image.

"We suppose that a similar scenario is also possible here," author Evan Blass wrote, "but there's one compelling piece of evidence which suggests that this is indeed a genuine iPhone 5 photo: it was supposedly shot by an Apple engineer eating his lunch at work."

The purported iPhone 5 photo is bolstered by numerous rumors that Apple's next-generation handset will sport an 8-megapixel camera. This week, a new report claimed that Apple had tapped both Largan Precision and genius Electronic Optical to supply those lenses for the next iPhone.

Photo allegedly taken by an Apple engineer with an iPhone 5. Click to see full-size.

In fact, the supposed 8-megapixel shooter has been perhaps the only relatively consistent element in rumors leading up to the unveiling of the so-called "iPhone 5." Reports claiming Apple will adopt an 8-megapixel camera began surfacing earlier this year.

Apple is widely expected to publicly unveil its next iPhone in the coming weeks at a press event. Numerous reports have pointed toward an October launch of the fifth-generation iPhone.

"We suppose that a similar scenario is also possible here," author Evan Blass wrote, "but there's one compelling piece of evidence which suggests that this is indeed a genuine iPhone 5 photo: it was supposedly shot by an Apple engineer eating his lunch at work."

O yea, if it was at work where is the apple logo on the plate? I don't know... this could be taken by anyone with any phone anywhere.

author Evan Blass wrote, "but there's one compelling piece of evidence which suggests that this is indeed a genuine iPhone 5 photo: it was supposedly shot by an Apple engineer eating his lunch at work."

So wait, just because this is a picture of food and the rumor alleges it was taken by an Apple engineer at lunch, it's supposed to be evidence of the photo's authenticity? How is this "compelling" evidence?

Okay camera experts, what does this mean for taking photos? 25% larger lens?

No.

The best thing is going from f/2.8 to f/2.4. That's a faster lens meaning improved low light performance. That's about a half-stop, about 50% more light reaching the sensor. Now if the sensors have equal performance, that 50% remains. However, if the sensor in the upcoming handset has improved low-light performance, that would result in additional performance.

The biggest beneficiary of improved low-light performance would actually be video recording since the effective shutter speed is 1/60th of a second.

It's hard to say what the implications of the focal length change are since we don't know if the sensor size changed. If the sensor size stays the same and the focal length increases, there would be more of a telephoto effect (or more accurately, less of a wide-angle effect). If the sensor size increases as well as the focal length, the image perspective would remain largely the same. The benefit of a large sensor is more light sensitivity with the possible consequence of more power consumption. The latter is probably negligible since the camera module usually isn't active.

Definitely not good with details. Look at the rice grains. Shaky to the least - either the engineer was starving (can't fault anybody else judging by the diet) or the camera is not that good with processing details in that situation. Also, the flash must have been turned off or it was fired prior to the picture was taken and it is wide apart as rumoured.

So wait, just because this is a picture of food and the rumor alleges it was taken by an Apple engineer at lunch, it's supposed to be evidence of the photo's authenticity? How is this "compelling" evidence?

Because it is "evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way" ..... which is one of the meanings of compelling ... simple, no?

Apple, bigger than Google, √ ..... bigger than Microsoft, √ The universe is unfolding as it should. Thanks, Apple.

Because it is "evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way" ..... which is one of the meanings of compelling ... simple, no?

The part I have a problem with is the "powerfully irresistible way". The author claiming this was shot by an Apple engineer at lunch isn't exactly what I would call powerful or irresistible. So for me, it's a picture of a plate of food with EXIF that can be faked and not really compelling. Now if the plate had an Apple logo on it, that might be.

O yea, if it was at work where is the apple logo on the plate? I don't know... this could be taken by anyone with any phone anywhere.

Oh and should it be f24 instead of f2.4 or f2.8 instead of f28?

The latter. f2.4 is quite fast for a zoom lens but not so much for a static lens, but f24 or f28 is ridiculously slow. I don't know much about cell phone camera lenses but it can't be f28. That's for sure.

Anyways, I think I'd rather take IQ over MP. The newest camera I have does 20, and what I've found the larger sizes to be beneficial the most for is zooming in once the photo has been taken. It's amazing how after you zoom in entirely with the camera, how detailed objects get the farther away they are, and the bigger the image is (so you have plenty of detail.)

What's more, the lens was recorded as a 4.3mm f/2.4, which is closer to that of a point-and-shoot than the iPhone 4's actual 3.85mm f/2.8," the report said.

The effect of the lens size is dependent on the distance from the lens to the surface of the chip, and on the chip size so the comparison is not valid until we know more details. The lens being 2.4 instead of 2.8 means that it will be slightly better in lower light situations.

Personally I would like to see the lens ever so slightly recessed. Mine got scratched in the first week.

A few billion people in Southeast Asia consider it a delicacy, a culinary treat. Much of the sea urchin harvested from the west coast of the United States is sent abroad. The typical Westerner foodie will say its an acquired taste.

Freshness is key. Good uni is really, really fresh.

Aesthetically, its appearance is not so different than many Western foods like mashed potatoes, pureed vegetables or peanut butter. If you find uni gross, you probably have issue with large parts of the typical American diet.

A picture has surfaced online that is alleged to have been taken by an Apple engineer with an 8-megapixel camera from the still-unannounced fifth-generation iPhone.

The data associated with the so-called "test photo" discovered by PocketNow states that it was shot with an iPhone 4, but also reveals that the picture, cropped to a size of 5 megapixels, was originally a much-higher resolution just shy of 8 megapixels.

"What's more, the lens was recorded as a 4.3mm f/2.4, which is closer to that of a point-and-shoot than the iPhone 4's actual 3.85mm f/2.8," the report said.

However, the data could also be bogus, as the site noted it was recently duped by an image taken with an iPhone, then uploaded to an iPad using software that altered the EXIF data associated with the image.

"We suppose that a similar scenario is also possible here," author Evan Blass wrote, "but there's one compelling piece of evidence which suggests that this is indeed a genuine iPhone 5 photo: it was supposedly shot by an Apple engineer eating his lunch at work."

The purported iPhone 5 photo is bolstered by numerous rumors that Apple's next-generation handset will sport an 8-megapixel camera. This week, a new report claimed that Apple had tapped both Largan Precision and genius Electronic Optical to supply those lenses for the next iPhone.

Photo allegedly taken by an Apple engineer with an iPhone 5. Click to see full-size.

In fact, the supposed 8-megapixel shooter has been perhaps the only relatively consistent element in rumors leading up to the unveiling of the so-called "iPhone 5." Reports claiming Apple will adopt an 8-megapixel camera began surfacing earlier this year.

Apple is widely expected to publicly unveil its next iPhone in the coming weeks at a press event. Numerous reports have pointed toward an October launch of the fifth-generation iPhone.

I don't see how a picture proves that this was an 8 megapixel image and it came from an iPhone 5. Anyone writing you that can say that but can't prove it, so why bother posting something that you can't prove?

I don't see how a picture proves that this was an 8 megapixel image and it came from an iPhone 5. Anyone writing you that can say that but can't prove it, so why bother posting something that you can't prove?